Staten Island needs cohesive vision on growth

BIG THINGS: The outlet mall planned for the borough is a sign of economic vitality.

With New York City’s growing population and a new string of developments on Staten Island’s North Shore, continued or even accelerated growth in the borough seems likely. The island is a sleeping giant, with budding economic, cultural and recreation initiatives. Construction is active, and the employment base is showing signs of life. Investments are announced on what seems like a daily basis.

What’s missing is a blueprint for channeling this growth in a way that benefits all Staten Islanders and the region as a whole. During the past year, a team of architects, planners and transportation specialists have worked together to create “A Vision for Staten Island.” The 90-page preliminary master plan—created pro bono by CetraRuddy and Swiss transit expert Arnd Bätzner—grew from our response to Crain’s 2017 question “Can New York City support a population of 9 million by 2040?” It tackles everything from the borough’s history and current trajectory to transit needs and growth opportunities. The goal: a sustainable, attractive and resilient Staten Island that offers live-work-play opportunities while maintaining and enhancing existing communities to rival any metro-area location.

With its charming character and significant resources, Staten Island is poised for progress and a revival of its status as a regional destination. Yet with its infrastructure and transportation issues—and lack of a cohesive vision—the borough is in danger of aggravating several critical challenges.

Among the most important are subpar transit options and a heavy reliance on automobiles. Routes for bicycles are limited and uninviting. Plus, the borough needs improved roadway maintenance and snow removal along with better streetscapes.

Development is nearing record levels on the island, especially on its eastern shore. However, much of the development is reactive, and some plans already unveiled seem likely to exacerbate congestion and other problems that residents and borough officials face every day. Increased job opportunities and leisure options are possible but often lack support.

A master plan is needed, and there is significant interest in this initiative from city leaders and groups, including the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. Both organizations tout the success they have helped foment, and they see advantages to proposing a unifying vision of the borough’s path forward.

Community involvement and a study of potential outcomes are equally critical elements of master planning. Recent experiences in East Harlem underscore the benefits of big-picture, neighborhood-sensitive planning. Yet on Staten Island, we could see the first boroughwide opportunity to proactively address growth.

We believe a comprehensive and holistic approach is necessary to ensure sustainable development on the island. Throughout the year the team led by CetraRuddy will present our findings in a variety of public forums, including an annual summit for Staten Island business leaders in mid-April. We will seek substantive input from the borough’s citizens, entrepreneurs and officials.

To move further toward a local economy benefiting more people, with reliable and efficient transit options and more attractive cultural and tourist offerings, a large-scale plan is necessary. It’s the key to better solutions. And by holistically engaging the borough’s communities, leadership and private developers, we can solve more issues all at once.

Eugene Flotteron, a native and resident of Staten Island, is a principal of CetraRuddy Architecture and the lead architect for the firm’s Corporate Commons 3, a 320,000-square-foot office building under construction there.

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